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Paignton News

The offences she admitted were failing to take fire precautions, failing to implement preventative measures, failing to provide appropriate alarms and failing to secure evacuation routes.

Judge Graham Cottle adjourned sentence for a month and ordered a probation pre sentence report. He released Godtschalk on bail.

He told Godtschalk:”There is a serious risk of an immediate sentence of imprisonment. It is right there should be as much information as possible for the sentencing judge.”

Mr David Sapiecha, prosecuting for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the cases arise from inspections carried out in March last year.

Four crimes related to flats at 2 Warefield Road , Paignton,

He said:”This is a case where the defendant owns and runs two tenanted properties where the fire service attended and found serious breaches of fire regulations.

“They also found that the defendant commissioned a fire safety assessment in 2015 which picked up many of the issues. She had received a single quote from a company to put things right but did not take the company up of that.

“We say this is a case where there may be higher culpability and a suggestion of putting profit before safety.”

He said there were problems with the smoke detectors, fire doors and exits at both properties but those at Esplanade Road were the more serious.

Mr Kevin Hopper, defending, said he will present personal mitigation when the case returns to court on September 29.